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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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<strong>the</strong> analogies to it in certain portions <strong>of</strong> ' Said<br />

when people sneeied^ HV^<br />

ancient reading <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> name, Beihzatha. Or else, <strong>the</strong><br />

name Be<strong>the</strong>sda CHAP, might combine, according<br />

to a not uncommon Rabbinic practice, <strong>the</strong> XH<br />

Hebrew Beth with some Aramaised form derived<br />

from <strong>the</strong> Greek word ' '""^ f/co, ' to boil' or *<br />

bubble up' (subst. l^iaLsi) ; in which case it would<br />

mean * <strong>the</strong> House <strong>of</strong> Bubbling-up,' viz. water. Any<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three derivations just suggested would not<br />

only give an apt designation for <strong>the</strong> pool, but<br />

explain why St. John, contrary to his usual<br />

practice, does not give a Greek equivalent for a<br />

Hebrew term.<br />

All this is, however, <strong>of</strong> very subordinate<br />

importance, compared with <strong>the</strong> marvellous facts <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> narrative itself. In <strong>the</strong> five porches surrounding<br />

this pool lay * a great multitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> impotent,' in<br />

anxious hope <strong>of</strong> a miraculous cure. We can picture<br />

to ourselves <strong>the</strong> scene. <strong>The</strong> popular superstition,*<br />

which gave rise to what we would regard as a

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